Siphonaptera

An order of small, wingless insects comprising
the fleas. They are blood-sucking, external parasites
on warm-blooded animals. Fleas have hard, laterally compressed bodies with
many microscopic, backward-pointing spines. Their mouthparts are adapted
for piercing their host and sucking up blood. Their powerful, bristly legs
enable them to perform single leaps of more than 30 centimeters.

Flea eggs are laid in dirt or in the nest of the host; the whitish larvae
feed on organic matter and the feces of adult fleas. The larvae spin cocoons
as part of the metamorphosis into
adults. Many species can live on more than one host species. Adults can
feed for several weeks without feeding.